Kathy Riggs November 23rd, 2009
Thanksgiving is this week and the holiday season is beginning.
It is always an exciting time when the stores pull out the decorations and Christmas trees arrive from the North Carolina mountains.
As much as I love the Christmas season, I do wish retail America could wait until the last bite of Thanksgiving dessert is savored before launching full speed into Christmas. In recent years Thanksgiving tends to get lost in the mass of multi-colored electric lights and rows of wrapping paper. So I will take this week’s post to focus on Thanksgiving.
One of the most American of holidays, Thanksgiving is rooted in the early days of this country when Pilgrims and native Americans feasted together and expressed gratitude for their bounty.
Despite these economic times we have so much more than many people throughout the world. (If we didn’t, why are so many people trying to come into this country?) There are signs the economy is improving and still, most of us are much more affluent than millions of the planets inhabitants. Yes, we have all cut back in the past year, but are postponing a vacant or eating at home more after really a sacrifice?
So when you gather around your Thanksgiving table, stop and focus on what you have rather than what you want and, like me, I’m sure you’ll find your cornucopia overflows.
on the lighter side…
A real estate lender called FIRST National Bank purchased a billboard that sent the wrong message: Loans make life easier, at FIRST.
SHAMELESS PLUGS
If you have some farmland you are willing to sell, I have some interested buyers. I also need a 4 to 10 acre parcel. Call me at 252-939-2432 or email me at kriggs@kathyriggs.com for more information
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kathy Riggs November 15th, 2009
Throughout 2009 I have been posting about the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit and last week I was happy to report the tax credit has been extended and expanded to include credits for current homeowners, provided they have lived in the home they are selling for five consecutive years within the past eight years.
The expanded credit, which was effective November 7, 2009, has additional benefits for our military families.
The National Association of Realtors was the primary group pushing for extension of the tax credit. The NAR is especially pleased that military families will can reap some additional benefits. Whenever the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces are protecting our national security, they are protecting the American dream of home ownership. I’m happy to share the following information from the National Association of Realtors:
Two special provisions in the present tax credit law assist members of the military, intelligence and foreign services in taking advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, said Charles McMillan of Texas and president of the National Association of Realtors.
Armed services members, as well as intelligence service and foreign service personnel, who are on active duty and out of the U.S. for 90 days during any part of 2009, get an additional year to buy their homes, to May 1, 20ll.
Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy of the home purchased with the tax credit. Homebuyers who purchase their home using the tax credit must use that home as a principal residence for a period of no fewer than three years, or must forfeit the entire credit. Military, intelligence and foreign service members do not have to repay the credit if they have to sell their home after fewer than three years occupancy due to official business.
on the lighter side…
A real estate lender called FIRST National Bank purchased a billboard that sent the wrong message: Loans make life easier, at FIRST.
SHAMELESS PLUGS
If you have some farmland you are willing to sell, I have some interested buyers. I also need a 4 to 10 acre parcel. Call me at 252-939-2432 or email me at kriggs@kathyriggs.com for more information